Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 011-073
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 1971 at 9:41 PM
Participants: Kissinger, Henry A.; Nixon, Richard M. (President)
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/011-073

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:00] Dr. Kissinger, sir.
[0:02] Yeah.
[0:03] Mr. President, Mr. Kissinger.
[0:04] Oh, Mr. President.
[0:04] Yeah.
[0:05] I've just talked to Connolly, and he said if the president wants him to go, of course he'll go.
[0:10] Good.
[0:12] And I think it's a tense strike.
[0:13] Yeah.
[0:14] He took it all right, did he?
[0:16] Oh, well, you know, he's a big man.
[0:18] Yeah.
[0:21] I told him the truth.
[0:23] Yeah.
[0:23] And I said Laird couldn't change his program, even though he'll be there three days later.
[0:29] And Richardson said it's his domestic program.
[0:34] He said, hell, my domestic program can't be heard.
[0:38] And I haven't got a schedule that the president can't change.
[0:41] I'll be damned.
[0:43] And he said, and he thinks it's a good idea, too.
[0:48] Did he?
[0:48] Yeah.
[0:49] Well, he sees the big play.
[0:51] Oh, yeah.
[0:52] Well, he's a big man.
[0:53] It'll show, too, Henry, that we're standing by an ally, you know.
[0:57] Mr. President, if we had thought about it, I'm a little bit embarrassed that I didn't.
[1:02] Yeah.
[1:02] He is the best man you could have sent.
[1:04] Former Secretary of the Navy, and he's known to be the second man in the government.
[1:10] Above all, he's the strongest man in the Cabinet.
[1:12] That's right.
[1:13] He's a guy with guts.
[1:14] That's right.
[1:15] I mean, it'll really tear these other people to pieces.
[1:18] Well, let's...
[1:20] dad will really put it to them yeah well i think it's an inspired idea i will uh
[1:29] We'll keep it all closely held, and then we'll talk to him about it Thursday when you get back.
[1:33] Right.
[1:34] And work it out.
[1:34] Don't you think so?
[1:35] Oh, yeah.
[1:35] Well, he's all agreed.
[1:36] We don't have to do any more.
[1:38] My God, that's good.
[1:39] Isn't that something?
[1:40] He said, if the president wants me, I have no schedule problem.
[1:43] But that's what every cabinet member should say.
[1:46] They don't say that, though.
[1:47] They say they always determine what the hell is in their interest.
[1:49] And he said, I'm not...
[1:51] I said, you won't have to be identified with the policy because everyone knows that you didn't really...
[1:56] originated, you're just going there as the president's representative.
[2:01] He said, hell, I want to be identified with the policy.
[2:03] I'm in favor of it.
[2:07] Isn't that something?
[2:09] Well, that's good.
[2:10] That's good.
[2:12] That's really good.
[2:13] I really think it could be the right thing.
[2:15] I know it's the right thing.
[2:16] By God, you know, just show up some of these other clowns.
[2:20] And that's it.
[2:21] That's what it will exactly do.
[2:24] That will put them to shame.
[2:26] Did you mention coming back via Japan?
[2:29] Yeah, he likes that idea.
[2:31] And I told him, of course, he can take his wife, and he said he'd want to do that.
[2:36] Well, by all means, he should, and we'll send him on the presidential plane, too.
[2:40] I mean, it'll be a really goddamn good trip.
[2:42] Right.
[2:43] Good.
[2:44] Well, that's a terrific thing.
[2:45] Good.
[2:46] Good, Henry.
[2:46] Well, that's good.
[2:48] Thank you.